PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

69. TEXAS TECH (31-26, did not qualify for NCAA post-season play).

Conference/Projected Finish: Big 12/8^th (9-16, 8^th in 2006).

Coach: Larry Hays (761-422, 20 years).

First Game: Feb. 2 vs. Stephen F. Austin.

OVERVIEW: The Red Raiders feature two of the nation’s best sophomores, RHP Miles Morgan (6-7, 3.63) and OF Roger Kieschnick (.359-9-55), along with the team’s top hitter, junior C Matt Smith (.377-7-46). The trick to improving on last year’s eighth-place finish in the Big 12, however, will be getting a contribution from someone on offense other than Kieschnick and Smith, easily the team’s top two returning hitters, and a bigger contribution from a pitching staff that includes the likes of senior LHP Aaron Odom, who was drafted in the 25^th round by the Athletics despite going only 3-6, 6.75.

TOP PROSPECT/SOPHOMORE: Miles Morgan, rhp. Both Morgan and Kieschnick are candidates to be drafted in the top three rounds—Morgan this year as a draft-eligible sophomore, Kieschnick a year from now. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Morgan gets excellent movement on a 95 mph fastball, leading to 103 strikeouts in 107 innings in 2006. Kieschnick is a big, fast lefthanded-hitting outfielder who started in right field for Team USA last summer.

TOP FRESHMAN: Taylor Ashby, of. TOP JUNIOR: Matt Smith, c. TOP SENIOR: Aaron Odom, lhp.